The Louisville Youth Choir (LYC) was founded in 1967 by Italio Taranta, a former Professor of Music and Choral Conductor at the University of Louisville School of Music, supported by Robert Whitney, former Dean of the University of Louisville School of Music and Melvin Dickinson, Conductor of the Louisville Bach Society. During its over 40 consecutive years of service to the community, the Choir has flourished under the leadership of Michael Neely, Arnold Epley, Russell Freeman, Richard Lin, John Dickson, Carol Christell, Donna Thomasson, Frank Heller III, Louie Bailey, Don Scott Carpenter and Thomas A. Seacat. Terri Foster was appointed Artistic/Executive Director during the 2007-2008 season.

The Louisville Youth Choir has been heard throughout Europe and North America including performances in the Dom in Salzburg (2006), Votivkirche in Vienna (2006), Carnegie Hall in New York City (2003), Santuario de Guadalupe in Santa Fe (2003) as well as Chicago (2004), Colorado Springs, CO (2003) and Windsor and Toronto, Ontario (2002). The choir has accepted invitations for guest performances most recently with the Moscow Ballet (2007) and Global Rhythms (2008), the largest world music ensemble in the United States.  Locally, LYC has also performed for the Kentucky Music Educators In-Service conference several times, acted as a demonstration choir for the ACDA Southern Division Conference, partnered with Kentucky Opera in premieres of three operas based on the lives of Kentuckians Muhammad Ali, Helen Thomas and Dian Fosse, and premiered commissioned works by composers David J. Elliott, Bill Stevens, Paul Nahay, Frederick Speck, Frank Richmond, Patsy Ford Simms and Daniel Gilliam.

In an endeavor to create a community-wide relationship, the Louisville Youth Choir, in the summer of 2007, became Artists in Residence at the Ursuline School for the Performing Arts. A long-time member of the Greater Louisville Fund for the Arts, the Louisville Youth Choir has had numerous opportunities to perform with the area’s finest arts organizations. The choir hasperformed Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Louisville Orchestra, Puccini’s Tosca with the Kentucky Opera, Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Louisville Ballet and the Beethoven Choral Fantasy with the Louisville Youth Orchestra. The choir has also partnered with the Louisville Bach Society and the Broadway Series.

The Performance division is comprised of singers in the 1st through 12th grades in four ensembles: Primary Choir, Chorale, Les Chambres and Kantorei. As a community based organization, LYC draws children and youth from throughout metropolitan Louisville. Its repertoire includes music of many styles and cultures, including major classic and modern works with orchestra and soloists. LYC offers a choral music experience unique in the region and actively seeks to keep its alumni engaged through the summer concert season of Lascito Coro, the area’s only all-female adult classic choir.

LYC is governed by a Board of Directors composed of parents, area musicians, community business leaders and other individuals committed to the success of young people. Supported by the Greater Louisville Fund for the Arts, Yum! Brands, Inc., The Kentucky Arts Council, Metro Louisville Government and an individual/corporate subscriber program, the Choir continues its dedication to young singers in their development of distinguished musical experiences and lasting community-wide friendships.